legal

Personal insolvency: Is the system here fit for purpose?

PIAs were implemented to help debtors who lost huge sums of money during the financial crash, but there are questions over trust and the room for error

Jay Bourke, the well-known publican and restaurateur, is the latest high-profile figure whose PIA has been unsuccessful. Picture: Bryan Meade

Judge Mark Sanfey furrowed his brow as he told a remote High Court hearing last week that he was “not happy” with an explanation given to him about an error that had occurred in a case. The judge was referring to an issue in the personal insolvency arrangement (PIA) of Jay Bourke, the well-known publican and restaurateur.

Bourke’s PIA, which was dismissed last month, categorised the entirety of over €550,000 worth of debt owed to ...